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for all.

Upcoming Events Downtown

Asian Voices by BalletMet

A spectacular group of artistic voices take the stage. Together these creative voices dance out loud.

“Being Michelle” Film Screening

Being Michelle follows the astonishing journey of a deaf and disabled woman who survived incarceration and abuse under unimaginable circumstances by a system that refused to accommodate her needs as a deaf person with autism. Michelle’s trajectory changed when she met Kim Law, a blind volunteer life coach who teaches classes to people in prison. Today, outside of prison, Kim and Michelle are doing the difficult work of unraveling Michelle’s history, of telling the story of Michelle’s traumatic childhood and her adverse experiences in the criminal justice system. With the support of Kim, Michelle realizes her own voice and strength. Throughout the film Michelle’s artwork provides her own depiction of the trauma she survived as well as a means to her recovery. 

Ultimately, Being Michelle is a story of redemption. It is about the bonds between women committed to thriving in a broken system, who are forging a path to healing that can only come through facing the truth and communicating it, together. 

This event is held in collaboration with Art Possible as part of the Reelabilities Film Festival.

Artist Commune: Portable Paradise Pop-Up Exhibition

Urban Arts Space is excited to announce the theme for March’s Artist Commune: Portable Paradise. We invite artists to radically explore the idea of paradise in a pop-up exhibition. Questions that shape this theme: Who are the architects of Paradise? Who is on the margins in dominant ideas of Paradise? Who is invited? Who gets the authority to name what Paradise is like? How do you get there? Shaped but not limited by these questions, we’re asking artists to create work that engages the metaphysical, tangible, and personal to re-imagine Paradise.

The objective of this exhibition is to showcase a diverse range of interpretations of Paradise through various artistic mediums. We aim to create a space that challenges the way our unique identities and socioeconomic positions shape our concept of Paradise.

Columbus Blue Jackets v. Pittsburgh Penguins

Columbus Blue Jackets v. Colorado Avalanche

Portable Paradise: A Poetry Celebration with Roger Robinson, Ajanaé Dawkins, & Cynthia Amoah

“And if I speak of Paradise,

then I’m speaking of my grandmother
who told me to carry it always
on my person, concealed, so
no one else would know but me.”

— Roger Robinson, “A Portable Paradise”

This evening event at Urban Arts Space—7–9 PM on Friday, April 5—will feature readings by high school and college students, along with their instructors, from Arts IMPACT Middle School, Bexley High School, Otterbein University, Denison University, and The Ohio State University. These students and staff members will have participated in writing workshops with Columbus-based poet-educator Peter Kahn and acclaimed Black-British writer Roger Robinson, winner of the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize. 

Come hear work from burgeoning student writers who will share the stage with local poets Cynthia Amoah and Ajanaé Dawkins, along with Roger Robinson as the headliner. Time permitting, there will be a Q&A.

Columbus Crew v. DC United

Columbus Crew v. Portland Timbers

OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon

The 2024 OhioHealth Capital City Half & Quarter Marathon and Columbus Promise 5K will be held on Saturday, April 27!

The “Best Tour Of Columbus On Two Feet” will again feature a distance for everybody: OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon (13.1 miles), OhioHealth Quarter Marathon (6.55 miles) and the Columbus Promise 5K (3.1 miles).

All races begin and end on S. High Street adjacent to the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons in downtown Columbus.

Columbus Crew v. Montreal

Blog Posts to Get You in the Know

Your guide to Downtown Columbus, from happenings to happy hours.

Dining

Rooftop Bars in Downtown Columbus

The only thing better than a good view is a good view with a drink…

Dining

Your Guide to International Fare in Downtown Columbus

You can find a distinguished mix of international fare in Downtown Columbus. With hot spots…

Stays and Hotel

Downtown Hotels for your Next Staycation

Looking for your home away from home? Relax and recharge in luxury, right in the…

Sports

Downtown Sports Teams to Cheer On

When it’s game day in Columbus, you’ll feel it.   When it comes to sports,…

Parks

Best Places for a Picnic in Downtown Columbus

Scioto Mile (Genoa Park) Stretch out on the steps behind COSI and munch on your…

Dining

Pop Up Markets Downtown

Pearl Market Shop Fresh, Shop Locally produced fruit, veggies, baked goods, coffee, treasures, and more…

Dining

Your Guide to Downtown Happy Hours

Discover a new bar or crafted cocktail every week in Downtown Columbus with these happy hours…

Blog Posts to Get You in the Know

Your guide to Downtown Columbus, from happenings to happy hours.

Dining

Rooftop Bars in Downtown Columbus

The only thing better than a good view is a good view with a drink…

Dining

Your Guide to International Fare in Downtown Columbus

You can find a distinguished mix of international fare in Downtown Columbus. With hot spots…

Stays and Hotel

Downtown Hotels for your Next Staycation

Looking for your home away from home? Relax and recharge in luxury, right in the…

Sports

Downtown Sports Teams to Cheer On

When it’s game day in Columbus, you’ll feel it.   When it comes to sports,…

Parks

Best Places for a Picnic in Downtown Columbus

Scioto Mile (Genoa Park) Stretch out on the steps behind COSI and munch on your…

Dining

Pop Up Markets Downtown

Pearl Market Shop Fresh, Shop Locally produced fruit, veggies, baked goods, coffee, treasures, and more…

Downtown Strategic Plan

Embark on the next stage of Downtown Columbus’ urban revival and transformation into a world class city by enhancing equity, expanding accessibility, creating connectivity, supporting local, and improving inclusion so that Downtown Columbus is a safe and welcoming destination where the prosperity of our city can be enjoyed by all.

Parking Information

Downtown Columbus has parking options abound. Garages, surface lots and on-street sites offer a wide variety of access, no matter your kind of ride, wherever your destination may be.

Downtown columbus' districts

Discover Downtown through the rich tapestry of its urban districts.

Take a stroll along Gay Street and you’ll discover a dense mélange of lively, street-level bars, galleries, restaurants, retail shops, and cafes.

From Columbus Commons to the Scioto Mile, for an experience that’s equal parts urban flair and natural splendor, head to the RiverSouth District.

For fashion, food, fun, fabulous tunes, and fantastic retail, the eclectic Fourth and Main District is hard to beat.

Pro sports, world-renowned live entertainment, and vibrant restaurants and bars— the Arena District scores big every time.

The convergence of Downtown’s central business district and the historic Franklinton neighborhood, The Peninsula brings together the best of all worlds – just around the bend of the Scioto River.  

Historic buildings have been transformed into must-experience bars, venues and experiences in this up-and-coming District just east of the Scioto. 

Home to a vibrant array of landmark institutions, historic sites, progressive galleries, and contemporary culinary establishments, make your next Discovery in this signature Downtown district.

of Downtown Columbus through dozens of local events happening every week. 

Follow Along On Socials

There’s nothing quite like the Downtown riverfront 🌊

And people are taking notice 👀 The Scioto Mile is up for @10best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Riverwalk which is HUGE news for our city! Downtown’s riverfront is a community favorite for signature festivals and summer activations and we want the nation to know😎

Help us move the Scioto Mile up the rankings and receive the national recognition it deserves by voting DAILY through April 8 at the link in our bio. 

📍The Scioto Mile captured by @kashvfx
TITANIC AT COSI🚢 

The ship has almost docked! The highly anticipated TITANIC: The Exhibition opens THIS SATURDAY at @cosiscience 🌊This incredible exhibit takes visitors through the chronological story of the ship’s construction, crew and passengers. As you walk through the history and are real-life replicas of the interior, you’ll feel surrounded by the ship and its stories. 

The exhibit features a full-scale replica of the grand staircase, 200+ real life artifacts, an iceberg, room replicas, and even real-life performers on select days. ⚓️It will captivate all ages and is great for individuals and families alike. 

Tickets are now available online! The exhibit will be here through September 2. Thank you to @cosiscience for inviting us for a sneak peek!

🚢TITANIC: The Exhibition
🗓️Opening March 9 at @cosiscience 
📍333 W Broad St
10 LUNCHES UNDER $10🌯

We’re all about a good deal💸 From sandwiches to pizzas to pierogis — here are some Downtown deals to add to the rotation🍽️ 

More suggestions? Throw ‘em in the comments ⬇️
THE ARNOLD IS HERE 💪😤

Over 20 THOUSAND athletes are competing in 50+ events here at the Arnold this weekend, with everything from the classic physique competitions to medieval fighting, the Arnold 5K, martial arts, gymnastics, wheelchair competitions, and arm lifting. 

🔙When he said “I’ll be back” he really meant it, as this is the 36th year in a row the Arnold Sports Festival has happened here in Columbus (not counting 2020). 

➡️Why Columbus? In 1970, Columbus promoter Jim Lorimer invited Arnold to compete in the Mr. World contest. When Arnold won, he promised that he’d come back to Columbus and collaborate with Lorimer to promote the sport of bodybuilding, which officially started in 1989. 

Fun fact: last year we saw Arnold himself spectating some medieval fighting, but alas, we didn’t press record in time. 

Who’s checking out the Arnold this year? Anyone compete in an event?
UNLEASH THE FURY⚡️🔥

Columbus brought the HEAT to Nationwide Arena last week at their first-ever home opener, with 9,000 fans cheering on the @columbusfury to their first win — for the team, and for womens’ sports 👏

The crowd was BACK last night at Nationwide Arena supporting their newest home team as the Fury took on the Vegas Thrill for their second home win🥇 

The atmosphere was ELECTRIC in the arena. Don’t think you’re a volleyball fan? Check out a Fury game and we guarantee you’ll become one😉 Head to the link in our bio for tickets for upcoming games!

Has anyone here caught a Fury game already? Let us know in the comments ⚡️